MacGyver Reboot -- Episode 6: Wrench

Synopsis in 3 sentences or less:

A serial bomber (aka The Ghost) from MacGyver's past resurfaces in New York City to threaten peace talks at the United Nations.  While working to neutralize the threat, MacGyver is forced to confront the painful memory of losing his Commanding Officer in a wartime blast.

Memorable Quote:

Remember, you have feelings about the bomb.  The bomb doesn't have feelings about you.  ~Commanding Officer Pena

Highlight:

I liked the scene in the bombed out warehouse where everyone but MacGyver thought The Ghost was dead except for MacGyver who showed some moxie and emotion in disagreeing and in insisting that The Ghost had set the whole thing up. Admittedly it was a bad case of assumptions by supposed intelligence professionals, but I still liked MacGyver getting fired up and going against the team.

Lowlight:

An odd and disjointed scene at The Ghost's apartment, which they only find due to some Riley computer magic.  MacGyver warns that the door may be booby trapped but proclaims it all clear after looking around under the door for just a few seconds with an improvised camera.  Then they try and kick the door down -- not a good idea -- should have called for backup to guard the outside of the building. Then after The Ghost gets away they discover that there's a bomb in the computer -- why wouldn't he just take his computer with him and blow something else up?  And then they all are pretty nonchalant when dealing with the computer bomb (e.g. Riley calmly asks, "If I plug in, will it blow?").  All in all this scene just didn't work.

Best MacGyverism:
Uses air bag, head rest, and car wiring to create blast and escape from buried car.

Other thoughts, observations, and questions I didn’t ask when I was in fourth grade:

• They did a nice job resurrecting the Charlie Robinson character from Countdown, though it would have been extra cool if their shared history would have included 51 bombs defused like in the original (rather than the 127 that is mentioned here).  And even though Charlie doesn't die in this episode, the CO talking about his becoming a new father and then perishing in a bomb blast harkens back to the original.
• This episode also echoes The Prometheus Syndrome in that there is a mysterious, unidentified bomber with a code name.
• When MacGyver and Charlie are looking at the bomb in their protective suits, why not at least wear a pair of thin gloves?
• "Has he always been like that?"  ~Patricia.  "Shouldn't she know her own man?"  ~Mrs. MacGyver Project.
• "If talking about your imaginary football league helps you stay calm, then keep going. But maybe not so much of the boom-boom talk?"  ~Riley
• Overall I like the scene with MacGyver defusing the truck bomb and saving Jack though I do wonder how The Ghost knew that someone would activate it in that manner (unless he had a backup plan), and I also wonder why MacGyver needed Jack to unscrew the vent (seems like MacGyver could have just gotten in the truck without stepping on the plate).

Final Analysis:

I like this one and would probably rate it as the best or second best.  I've said before that I like it when it's more serious and less goofy, and this one fit the bill in that regard.  They're also doing a good job of making the main character seem likable (e.g. the scene at the end with the little girl) and Lucas keeps getting better and better each time out.  Still a very long way for them to go, but overall the last two episodes have been a modest improvement over the first four (and also less reliant on guns), so that is a good sign.